Seahawks LB Smith makes big plays on way to winning Super Bowl MVP

Seahawks linebacker Malcolm Smith, left, intercepts a pass in front of Broncos running back Knowshon Moreno before returning it 69 yards for a pivotal touchdown and a 22-0 lead in the first half Sunday.

Photo: Chris O'Meara, STF

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Standing near his locker, the one where two footballs were tucked away for safekeeping, Seattle Seahawks linebacker Malcolm Smith repeated the word "fortunate" over and over again.

The third player at his position in NFL history to earn Super Bowl MVP honors, he spoke about feeling "fortunate to be a part of it" and "fortunate to get opportunities."

Truth is, the Seahawks were the lucky ones.

Because even though Smith was only a seventh-round draft pick, a guy who was not supposed to be a starter this season, he always was ready when called upon. Never more so than Sunday night, when Smith returned an interception of regular-season MVP Peyton Manning 69 yards for a touchdown in the first half, recovered a fumble in the second half, and was part of a dominating defensive performance that helped Seattle beat the Denver Broncos 43-8 for the championship.

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"He's one of the guys that plays with a chip on his shoulder," fellow linebacker K.J. Wright said. "He almost didn't get drafted. For him to come in, start from the bottom and work his way up to Super Bowl MVP, it shows how much character he has, how resilient he is."

Smith joined Ray Lewis of Baltimore in 2001 and Chuck Howley of Dallas in 1971 as the only linebackers to be picked as the top player in a Super Bowl. Only eight of 48 Super Bowls have ended with someone who plays defense getting the honor; the last example was Tampa Bay free safety Dexter Jackson in 2003.

And Smith, who is 24, is the fourth-youngest Super Bowl MVP.

His older brother, Steve, was a wide receiver on the Giants' 2008 Super Bowl title team and was at Sunday's game.

"I just told him to enjoy the moment, go out before pregame and take some pictures and really enjoy it," Steve said, "because you never know when it could end and you could never be back again."

It was Smith who wound up with the victory-sealing interception at the end of Seattle's NFC Championship Game victory two weeks ago.

And then, in the biggest game of all, Smith's pick-6 off a fluttering ball - after teammate Cliff Avril made contact with Manning during the throw - made it 22-0 in the first half Sunday, and Seattle was on its way.

Versatile linebacker

In many ways, Smith is emblematic of Seattle's success this season.

First and foremost, he plays defense, the unit that is the heart and soul of the team.

He's a young guy on a young roster, in only his third year in the league after playing for Seahawks coach Pete Carroll in college at Southern California.

Pegged mainly as a special teams guy, Smith earned notice with the speed and ability to handle both outside linebacker slots.

When Bruce Irvin was suspended for four games in May for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing substances, it was Smith who filled in as a starter.

When Bobby Wagner was sidelined and Wright slid over to middle linebacker, Smith got another opportunity to start. And when Wright broke his right foot late in the season, well guess who Seattle called upon? Yep, Smith, of course.

Then suddenly, on Sunday, there he was at the Super Bowl, in the right place and right time, as usual.

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